Is that how you would describe your life ... lesser? Why? Why would you choose lesser? And, like it or not, it is You who is doing the choosing. It's because (you don't have or you do have...fill in the blank) that stops you. So, to make certain I am understanding you correctly, it's other people or bad choices or lack of what you consider 'sufficient... that is what's stopping you? Or are these only excuses or self-justifications?!
Those with this mindset are easy to spot. They make a goal statement and then follow it quickly with... but. The 'but' is the reason(s) why this will never be. IF it can never be then why even talk about it in the first place?! Why make a goal that is either impossible or highly unlikely to ever be a reality? Are you trying to placate someone so are only going through the motions? Is 'failure' a state that you are comfortable in because it gives you an excuse to not try or not try to the fullness of your ability? I realize that this all sounds harsh, but sometimes we need to be real in order to honestly face what we are saying and doing.
So are you satisfied with less? And if so - WHY? Why would you accept less that the absolute best for you? The Lord has told us:
"I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful
are your works; my soul knows it very well." (Psalm 139:14, ESV)
God don't make trash... nor does He make a mistake. He breathed life into us (Genesis 2:7) and gave man charge over all His creation (Genesis 1:26-28) - this is definitely NOT less. And remember Jesus' words about why He came:
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they
may have life and have it abundantly." (John 10:10)
We are to live an abundant life. If you aren't then you are buying into a lie, being lazy, accepting less than your inheritance in the Lord. And, I suspect that there are a whole lot of other reasons, reactions, 'excuses'. You can't always look at what is, because this life and world is transient. Our abundant life here is meant to fruitful and fulfilling - and we play a crucial role in this because the Father chose to work through us - we can be His Ambassadors (2Corinthians 5:17-21)
It is time to stop denying our heritage and our responsibility (regardless of our circumstances and feelings) and to stand with our brothers and sisters in the Lord to become all we are intended to be in the world in which we live! We have not been created to be and live a lesser life... NEVER forget the words in John 10:10
"I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."
BUT... you have to choose this!
Christmas was yesterday (or a few days ago), so it's all over with? You survived THE major holiday of the year. Relieved? A little let down after all the festivities? So now you can put aside all the 'details' of this holiday and not think about it for at least 360 days? Is that all that Christmas is?
I believe that the sad response is... yes. Though we are admonished in many ways to 'keep Christmas the whole year' - we don't... or don't know how. What does keeping Christmas the whole year mean? What is at the core of this counsel? If we strip away the presents, the tinsel and glitter, the food and jollity, etc. what are we left with? Energy. Happiness. Hope. Love extended. Well wishes. And none of those cost a single cent. They do require a mindset of rejoicing and focus, however. Will this describe you... in the middle of July?
Rejoicing and focus? How can we ever live a Christmas the whole year in our hearts without focusing? This behavior must be intentional because typically everything around us is telling us the opposite story and thinking. Rejoicing? Now this can be or become the reason. What do you have to rejoice about? If you think about 'Who', then the answer is clear. So what will you do, even if you are the only one, to express the attitude of keeping Christmas year round? How will you rejoice?
And focus? Does this become the foundation of a year round attitude of Christmas?
"For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the
government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of
Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be
no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order
it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward,
even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this."
(Isaiah 9:6-7)
Look at when these words were written - Old Testament! This was a prophecy that would be fulfilled in the New Testament. Galatians 4:4-7, ESV
"But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son,
born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem
those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption
as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of
His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” Therefore you are
no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God."
Look at those words. The promise was given in Isaiah and fulfilled and reported in the Gospels. The words in Galatians should cause us all to be in a state of continual rejoicing and focus. These words are worth keeping in our hearts and minds and expressing in our actions. We can live Christmas 365 days a year!
Doncha just love getting presents? And, at least for me, Christmas presents are THE best. The gifts are wrapped and placed under the tree (even when the only gifts are from you to you). If you don’t know what’s in them, then you can speculate on what might be in those brightly decorated boxes. But, in the back of our minds isn’t the nicest gift that we were remembered… regardless of what’s inside? Do you feel the same way about giving gifts? I always try and get the giftee something I hope they will like. And watching their faces as they open it is so … lovely.
Can you apply that thinking to the greatest gift we received one morning in Bethlehem? A child was born, destined to be the Savior of the world. Can you imagine the wonder in the eyes and hearts of those shepherds when the angels appeared announcing the birth? Wonder… Awe… Questions… Hope… They had to be amazed and excited about what this gift might portend.
When you remember your pleasure when someone opened your gift, imagine the Father’s joy at seeing our reaction to His gift to us? He has just given us a way back into relationship with Him and all we need do is to accept and unwrap the wonderful gift. Indescribable joy! After the immediate reaction is over…what do we do with this unbelievable gift? Do we let it pervade all we do and say? Or… do we put the gift on the shelf and only bring it out occasionally? Let it Be all that’s intended for your life.
That was an article I wrote for my church's newsletter that I wanted to share. We all love to receive gifts even when we aren't certain what to do with them. But my question remains... what do we do with the gift of life, the gift of restoration, the gift of family, the gift of life's purpose, the gift of... and I could go on. The point is - if you count yourself as a Christian, then you've received multiple gifts in our one act of accepting Jesus as Lord. How we share and express those gifts is our determination. But simply putting your salvation on the back burner or shelf should never be an option.
Begin to see that YOU are your gift, your present to the world. What you are and do isn't insignificant or unwanted. Be your gift with joy, love, and wonder.
I love the (seasonal) winter holidays! Thanksgiving... Christmas... and to a lesser extent - New Years. These were and continue to be very special days which, for me, meant home and family. I do appreciate that my experiences aren't mirrored in everyone's lives but mine are so blessed. Which means that I get incredibly nostalgic... this year seems to be more so.
Why? The song, "There's no place like home for the holidays ..." keeps playing over and over in my mind, partially because happiness and joy seemed to blanket us all at this time of year. There seemed to be a gentleness, an attempt for understanding to permeate relationship and interactions. It always was true ... and I miss this! And at the center was - Home. Again, not everyone's experiences of this time of year at home, are positive and uplifting. If yours are, then you too are incredibly blessed.
What's different in the now from the then? People. Family members who have gone home to be with the Lord aren't present to gift us with their particular touches. Yes, there are new members... just wish I could blend the then and now people. (Never said I wasn't a cake and eat it too type.) And as nostalgic as I am and can become, the point is to live in this particular moment. If I don't, then I will miss making new memories. Even worse, I won't honor those earlier memories and that I don't want to do.
So, 2019 - making new memories with those who populate my life. It won't change the emphasis of Holidays = Home, only the participants. Making my world famous (in my mind) fudge, thinking about doing some cookies..., decorations up, Christmas letter sent. Not a bad start.
There is also a major consideration - not to lose the reason for the season. It's all about the Lord... or it should be. He is our reason for joy and peace, happiness and wonder, and should be the basis about how we interact with the time and each other. Father God gave us a wonderful gift of salvation. How are we handling it? Are we spreading its message of life? Regardless of anything, we have a great deal to celebrate and should demonstrate this! May you be touched by the love...wherever you call Home.
What do you want for YOU in this holiday season? Are you experiencing stress? Stress should never be part of the Christmas holiday... regardless of the source of the stress. Is joy present? Warm fuzzies? Is fun bringing a sparkle to your eyes? Do you look forward to this time of year with anticipation... or dread? Ultimately it's up to you because it's YOUR attitude and you do control this.
I tend to be a glass half full type (quite irritating to many) which means I am willing to take responsibility for who I am and what I do and say, but that I view this in a positive (silver lining) not negative light. Again - our view, our attitude is always ours and this we can control. Perhaps we can't control the conditions we are experiencing but we always can control how we respond to them.
Soooo... do you want to be in control? (Not a silly question.) Our ability to complain is well entrenched and we do employ it often... typically with a bit of soulful spin. People around us can typically identify our 'suffering in silence' behavior. But is this the atmosphere you want to flavor your interactions? How do YOU want this particular season to be remembered? What are you willing to do to enhance the season?
And... where is the Lord in all this? Is He even allowed to participate in His own birth celebration? And if He does... in what capacity? How is He honored? Do we even take the time to acknowledge that His birth marked the beginning of our salvation? Do we share this...? Easter can't occur without Christmas. Then again, it can be argued that Christmas has little purpose without Easter. The point in all this is YOU - your view, your understanding, your behavior. Bottom line is that Christmas came bringing us hope which Easter accomplished with the Lord's sacrifice for us. We truly are blessed... but it depends on your view.
that there are promises and gifts galore just waiting for you? There are!!! The truly sad reality is that many Christians, people who have accepted Jesus as their Lord, are unaware. Either they've not learned or been taught Who they now are and Whose they are. These gifts and promises are not just idle words - they are given to us in our journey in this life. We are never left to our own devices... we are equipped and enabled to live and make a difference in our world!
Sometimes they seem to be there for the taking, other times there are 'conditions' and or 'requirements' to attain them. Quick example - did you know that you are blessed coming in and going out? Always. You are.
"Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be
when you go out." (Deuteronomy 28:6, NKJV)
Ours. And yes, there is a 'condition/requirement'
"if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe
carefully all His commandments which I command you today..." (v 1)
Take the time and read the entire chapter. It lays out our blessings, but it also informs us of the curses of NOT following His requirements. Ultimately, it is always our decision as to what to do, how to act.
Throughout scripture there are verses that give us the information about what the promises and gifts that are available for us. And yes, some come with definite instructions (still ours to accept or not) about what we need to do. There are over 50 verses that clearly state what our promises are. Examples:
"The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those
who trust in Him." (Nahum 1:7)
"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever."
(1 Chronicles 16:34)
"For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness
continues through all generations." (Psalm 100:5)
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the
Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting
shadows." (James 1:17)
"The LORD Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will
never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be
discouraged." (Deuteronomy 31:8)
"So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we
drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these
things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But
seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things
will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:31-33)
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own
understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make
your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Were you familiar with all of these verses? If so, excellent. And... are you standing on those verses for your life? However, remember that these are only 7 of the over 50 verses that are ours! Never let anyone tell you that you aren't 'eligible'! Of course you are. And yes, you do still sin. But you have a way to redeem and become part of the family again - 1John 1:9-2:1. If nothing else, remember that you have one who sticks closer than a brother who is cheering you on and helping you to grow in understanding and stand on the Word.
Do you have any expectations from God? Do we even have the 'right' to expect anything from Him? Hasn't He already done everything (and more) He needs to do? Regardless, of what has been done, do we still harbor that first He has to (fill in the blank)? My response is - of course we do. Shouldn't has nothing to do with our feelings. Rationale, logical, justified or not ... we do! Though many times we can't seem to be specific. Is it something we think we need before we do what we need to do or ...
Isn't this where faith and confidence step in? Isn't this where we remember all the times and ways He has met our need? How He has always provided what is needed to do what we are asked by Him to do. Isn't this where we remember His word? Yes. Yes. Yes. And... still... When we limit what we know God is expecting from us, we really deny who He is in our lives. Yes?
Acknowledging that we do EXPECT God to (fill in the blank), oddly enough, will be the best starting point to take a step in faith. When we remember all the times that He did provide what we felt we needed can become that foundation of confidence. When we remember what His word says (about our situation) then we can act knowing that we are doing what is required and expected of us.
Again, it may sound counter intuitive but it is our faith that can activate His hand on our behalf the fastest. Remember what God says about Himself, there are over 35 verses that are specific:
“Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God!
I am God, and there is none like me.” (Isaiah 46:9)
"so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not
return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11, ESV)
"Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for
I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold
you up with my victorious right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)
"God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He
loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive
together with Christ—by grace you have been saved"
(Ephesians 2:4-5, ESV)
“I am the light of the world. The person who follows me will never
live in darkness but will have the light that gives life.” (John 8:12)
IF we believe that we are supposed to be doing or saying (fill in the blank) and expecting God to do (fill in the blank) first - not. We begin the process by our act of faith (confident trust) and take that step because we know that the basis is His unmerited favor and mercy. And, what if we are wrong... have acted precipitously... or... Then we accept our error, apologize/redeem. and move on.
In the context I'm saying this, it really means a pity party - legitimate or not. To be honest, we all engage in this activity ... occasionally. Occasionally needs to be the operative word and the duration needs to be minimal. The, 'Why' do we go through these time are as varied as the cause(s). Not completely the point - if we do experience them then we should control them.
Silly perhaps, but when I was at university I always gave myself a good 3 hour pity party when that's what I was feeling. 3 hours was long enough to merge into that emotion but not long enough to be trapped in it. Typically I found myself laughing at me and this always push me forward and out of the pity party. I don't believe that pity parties are inherently 'bad' but they can be when you just give in to them.
So what do pity parties do for us? Legitimize pouting? My argument would be that in order to 'control' them, we need to know why we engage in them and what we receive from them. It would also be helpful to understand (analyze) what causes them. However, the most important is moving beyond them.
Is fear your why? Or is it frustration? There is always a cause for the pity party. Your 'why' may be simply a response to what you are experiencing and/or you haven't identified the cause. Is it a time to give in to the emotion before finding the cause? While logic and analysis may not be the next steps you want to take, let them be present and active as soon as possible so you don't compound your situation.
Isaiah 41:13
"For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and
says to you, Do not fear; I will help you."
James 1:19-21
"My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be
quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because
human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent
and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you."
What is received through a pity party is typically very individualized. It never excuses the pity party but it may explain your why to you. However, never let the supposed positive aspects provide the rationale. If you must engage then control you.
Underscoring the moving on is:
Psalm 46:1-3
"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. ..."
Proverbs 18:10
"The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and
are safe."
Nehemiah 8:10
"Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."
Obviously there are other verses that can help us but these three really are a strong defense and foundation to moving beyond.
True for you? _Are You a victim? You do realize that if this is true for you, then you are the perpetrator! Think about it ... what are the words that come forth from your mouth! Are they words of worry, doubt, fear? Do words about you to you uplift or tear down? confident or can't?
Remember what scripture says about the tongue:
"And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue
is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on
fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell." (James 3:6, ESV)
"Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips and a deceitful tongue."
(Psalm 120:2)
"But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment
for every careless word they have spoken." (Matthew 12:36)
"A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes
out of it." (Matthew 15:11)
True. But this isn't a life sentence! It's your tongue you can change your perspective and then change your words. I believe that words can bring hope and comfort, truth, build confidence, etc. And it's you that controls what comes out of your mouth... And it's what's in your heart and mind that controls what you say. Negative or positive - that's down to you.
"But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart,
and these things defile a man." (Matthew 15:18)
How and with what you 'feed' your spirit determines how healthy your heart is. Stop for a moment and look at your life. Never forget that your life directed by what you see. We have morphed into a society that is directed by the visual. Decades ago it would, probably, been directed by what you heard and/or read. Today we primarily feed our eyes through television or movies and especially our phones/tablets/computers.
Self-fulfilling prophecy is based on when we see, hear, or both a particular perspective, then we tend to follow this - especially if the message is repeated ad nausea. If it 'makes sense' (whether or not we test it)... it becomes our standard. This does not need to become our MO. We can take control and determine based on..... If scripture isn't your foundation then you are severely hampered. When it is your foundation then it is like the house ...
"built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus
himself being the cornerstone," (Ephesians 2:20)
"No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue
which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is
the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness
is from Me, Says the Lord.” (Isaiah 54:17, NKJV)
Yes, you did read that correctly. NO weapon will succeed against us... ever! Too often we stop after the first 7 words. But there are words of direction, identification, etc. that we miss by not reading the entire verse.
As wonderful as the first 7 words are, especially when we feel we are or are on the verge of being defeated, the scripture goes far deeper. The rest of the verse tells us that we shall condemn tongues that rise against us. It gives us our foundation when we see that our heritage is based in our standing as the Lord's servants. We also are affirmed in righteousness when the Lord states that it comes from Him. Those are strong words on our behalf. Do we stand on them?
However, no matter what the gifts and promises from the Lord are - we have to appropriate them. If all they are is available but we don't act, then we waste our inheritance as well as our equipping. I believe that we are defeated far too often from a lack of action than from the wrong action. Remember the first verse of this old hymn? If we 'trust and obey' ...
"When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."
Trust and obey are action words. They don't just sit in our minds, they are to be activated ... especially when we are under attack. You say you don't know what you should do? Look at this verse again - 'while we do His good will'. If you feel you don't know what this is then go to His word - there are examples of what we can do. Sometimes this is trusting ourselves, that we will walk with the Lord and He will show us. And if we do the wrong thing? He will still be with us and show us how to redeem the situation.
When we start from the understanding that no weapon will succeed against us... then we can stand. We have to activate, through trust and obedience, what is already prepared for us to overcome and prosper.
